Nathan Smith wins 4th US Mid-Am title

LAKE FOREST, Ill. – Nathan Smith won the U.S. Mid-Amateur for the record fourth time Thursday, beating Canadian hockey referee Garrett Rank 1-up in the 36-hole final.

The tournament winner traditionally receives a spot in the Masters.

The 34-year-old Smith, from Pittsburgh, also won the event for players 25 and older in 2003, 2009 and 2010. He broke a tie with Jay Sigel for the tournament victory record.

The 25-year-old Rank, a referee in the Ontario Hockey League, won the 31st, 32nd and 33rd hole to square the match. They halved the 34th, Smith regained the lead with a par on the par-3 35th, and won when they halved the par-5 36th with pars.